sharonintx

It happened to me too. Then after the month long stall I lost maybe a pound a week for another month. At about 4 months or little longer the weight just started dropping. I didn't do anything different. I just started losing pounds. I'm just over 5 months now and losing a couple pounds a week on a good week and a pound or so the rest of the time. Don't let it frustrate you. It's just part of the deal for some and undoubtedly you will lose more. I guess that happens when your body gets good and ready to let it go:)

Yes. The emotional aspect is probably the most difficult part of this whole thing. Most of us experience it to some degree. For me it wasn't bad dreams or anxiety but more an influx of emotions that I wasn't prepared for. It's like you spend most of your life using food as a comfort and a friend. Then all of a sudden you don't have that ability anymore. It took me a good 3 months to begin to get a grip. Some people sooner and others longer. You are going to hear this a thousand times, but it will get better. Being as you were strong enough to make the decision to have this surgery and actually follow through with it, you will undoubtedly come to terms with what you've done and the aftermath. My personal experience is that the surgery and recovery was a cakewalk compared to the mental and emotional changes that took place. You know in your mind why these emotions are an issue. You just changed the rest of your life by having an operation that took away the most of your stomach, it won't ever come back, and you can't use food as a source of comfort anymore. The trick is to be strong enough to work through the emotions and reach a place of acceptance. No fun - I realize this but you can do it. You were on the ball enough to know you needed to change and I'd be willing to bet you are able to get control of the horrible emotional roller coaster as well. It's not easy and it sure isn't fun but you got this - keep your chin up and take one day at a time. You'll make it just fine:)

Well - I don't think everyone loses hair. i say this because I am now at 5 mos out and I haven't lost hair. None. I am not kidding myself nor making up stories about hair loss. I did start taking the Biotin after 4 weeks post op. 500mg/day. I don't know if that's the reason or not. I have lost no hair.

I have some soda every now and then. I haven't had an issue with the sleeve stretching. What I do notice is that no matter how little I drink or how slowly I drink it, the carbonation makes me feel like a big balloon. And forget about wanting any food after having soda. It fills me up for a long time. For the most part it isn't even worth it.

I was tired too. Many of the people here bounced back a lot sooner than I did. I was constantly tired for nearly 3 months. I'm going on 5 months now and feel pretty good most of the time. Hang in there because it really does get better.

Very strange, but I can't tolerate any kind of lunch meat. I can eat pork, beef,chicken, fried, breaded, really anything I want except the lunch meats. I have no clue why this is.

I swear it took me over 2 months to feel even remotely normal. I couldn't understand it and thought I would never be normal again. But it finally happened. Little by little I started feeling better and now at just over 4 months I feel like myself again. And some thinner too! Hang in there. I know it's hard and it sure does suck but you will get there:)

You are right Aussie Lady. Personally, I see nothing wrong with men having the "man" role and the ladies having the "woman" role. Not to say that we need to be considered secondary to men, but there's not a thing wrong with being treated like a lady.

Have some orange juice:) If it disagrees with you - you will know very quickly.

Yes.

I went into surgery with a 36 BMI and no comorbities. I went to Mexico too and paid just over 4K for the sleeve. People told me I wasn't big enough, should just do it on my own ( as if I hadn't tried my entire life), and that Mexico was dangerous. Obviously, I jumped on the plane. I now have a BMI of 30 after 4 months and it keeps going down. Do what makes you happy and give no thought to those that criticize.

Lol I don't think you will be in the bathroom all day, maybe just part of it. I've not tried either of those but at least once a week I am popping a Dulcolax or something like it. I'm pretty sure the enema would give you pretty fast relief though:) If you are really uncomfortable go ahead and give it a try.

I've lost no hair at all. I started the Biotin at about 4 weeks, I take my vitamins, and I don't bother with how much protein I've eaten in a day. I do try and eat the protein on my plate first but I don't count any grams, calories, or anything else. I'm not sure if the Biotin is the reason I am not losing hair but I guess it doesn't hurt.

At 2 months. It didn't irritate my stomach. Unfortunately, I could ( and still true now) only take a few sips and I was full.

RE: Slider foods and restriction. I realize that a lot of people find that some foods slide right through and they are able to eat a lot more of the things that are considered bad. It's kind of like with the hair loss issue. A large majority lose hair. But not everyone fits the same mold. For me, there are no slider foods. Everything fills me up. Nothing slides, drinking while eating does not make the food flush right through. When I first joined this forum the consensus to most of the things I posted about eating was that as soon as I was properly healed I would discover that I was stretching my sleeve and that I would never lose weight if I continued to eat as I pleased rather than follow a specific diet set out by a professional. I do appreciate the good intentions, but you cannot lump everyone in the same category. I don't have anything close to a stretched sleeve. And now it's having to worry about what happens in 2 years? I don't think so. I eat what I choose, lose weight at a reasonable pace, and simply will not spend half my time worrying about what may happen. What kind of life is that? It won't be my life. There has always got to be someone that wants to throw in the what ifs, the warnings, the implied disgust that some of us are negligent sleevers. I do appreciate the words of wisdom but let us remember that each individual is different and we cannot put each other in a one size fits all category. I think it's great that some people are very determined to stick to a diet plan and make it a lifestyle. I wish you the greatest success. It would be great if everyone was wished success no matter your personal opinions. I say that I will continue to have success in the manner I choose and in 2 years I will still look great. PS: I never set a goal weight and won't be doing so. This is a wild ride and where ever I land will be fine by me. Lets all be secure enough with ourselves to offer support without being negative towards anyone else's choices.

17 weeks post op I don't have regrets. It hasn't been fun or easy getting to this point, but after the initial shock wore off, I got it thru my head that I would never eat what is considered a normal food portion again, and after I got the upper hand on the emotional rollercoaster that I was on for a couple months - Nope. I do not regret it at all. This morning I got on the scale and there are 35 pounds gone. And the scale continues to go downward. Be prepared for the permanent change you are making and understand the implications of it. You'll come out just fine and have no regrets either:)

Me too! I've gotten some negative comments from time to time when I post about the things that I still eat and have no intention of depriving myself in the least. I eat candy, chips, ice cream, pop corn with a boatload of butter - anything I want. As you get further out you will notice the restriction. It's unforgiving. So when I saw I am eating this or that it isn't much of it at all because I'm too full. I lose slowly but its ok with me. I am down 34.5 pounds as of today and feel fine about my progress. You live how you want Shelby and don't worry what anyone thinks. You are very early out and I promise you are not yet feeling the amount of restriction that you are going to feel. SO be careful for a couple months and give yourself time to heal. But by all means - if you want a little taste of something then have one. I don't wanna live the rest of my life not having some Pepsi, candy, or whatever. Use your good sense and make your own path. You are gonna do great!

A multi vitamin, iron supplement, Biotin, and sublingual B Complex. Working out pretty well.

I flew home from Mexico the next day after surgery. I was so tired from walking thru the airport I just closed my eyes and rested. It was ok. No problems.

Awww Shelby it's gonna be ok:) Having this darn surgery is SO hard emotionally. I can totally relate to how you feel. It took me longer than some to come to grips with what I've done. What I've done is remove the ability to use food as my comfort. And truthfully, times have been hard around my house lately and not being able to give myself the comfort I want the most really really bites. I'm still coming to terms with it 4 months post op. Sometimes I get so mad because I want to eat more of whatever delicious thing is on my plate, but I can't. Take right now for example! I've been putting a lot of effort into being the best BBQ maker I know. I am smoking briskets, turkeys, chicken, pork, - all of it. Doing a good job too! I have some smoked chicken on the plate in front of me with some chicken smoked with apple and cherry puree mixed with some red pepper. This sh*t is good. But can I eat much? Heck no! But I want to so bad. But have faith girl! You will learn how to adjust slowly and you will be just fine. And beautiful too. Why do some of us have to be fat while others seem to stay thin easily?? I just don't know but it sure isn't fair. The first couple months after surgery are the worst! Oh how I hated life and my sleeve as well. Sometimes still do but it has gotten a lot better. When i look at myself now I am starting to see smaller arms, a thinner face, legs that cannot belong to ME because they aren't fat enough, and sometimes I even see "pretty" when I look in the mirror. And so will you. The emotional aspect sucks big time, but realize these wild emotions are just another part of this whole ordeal, know it will get much much better, and keep the faith. You are gonna make it:)

Nope you are not the only one. I lost a lot right away, then nothing for a month and a few stalls that last a week or so. Just hang in there! It will fall off when your body gets ready for it to fall off. DOn't even worry about the pounds that came back. They will disappear too and you will start on the downhill slide again. Promise:)

Lol I don't know about the chin hairs but don't think it's a definite that you will lose a lot of hair. I am at 4 mos and 1 week and showing no sign of any hair falling out. In fact it grows faster than usual now. Take your supplements and hope for the best!

That's awesome! You will smoking hot in it! I have some Juicy Couture denim leggings that I bought 2 years ago. They just never stretched enough to fit. I am pretty sure I'll be able to wear them this year when the weather gets cooler ( November at least here in TX). It's going to be a major victory.

My husband hasn't said a word. I don't think he notices. The only thing he notices is that my plate is still nearly full when I take it in the kitchen.. He and my boys say the same darn thing nearly every day. "Hey - are you gonna eat that?" I say nope. Then the leftover food disappears. They were all evidently starving before surgery because I ate all my food and all they saw was an empty plate. I bet when I start spending money on a bunch of new clothes he will notice! Not the clothes mind you, but the money I'm spending on them:)

Most of my shorts have gotten so big that if I put my phone and keys in the pockets they start sliding down on that side. So one side is pulled way up and the other side sags way down.